Sleep difficulties have been linked to many causes including stress, diet, and exercise, but a recent study shows that sleeplessness may be due to more than environmental factors. The research, conducted by the Institute of Occupational Health and partnered with the University of Helsinki, found that insomnia may be hereditary.
In he study, 12,500 adult twins were observed over a 19 year period. It was found that, compared with fraternal twins, identical twins were more likely to suffer from insomnia issues. According to the researchers this finding indicates that the insomnia problems are due to genetic factors. In addition, the researchers also found that insomniacs may have a shorter life span compared to those who get adequate amounts of sleep.